Bendable Graft Containment Cage

ABSTRACT

A bone graft containment device includes a plurality of cage segments connected to one another along a longitudinal axis, each of the cage segments connected to an adjacent one of the cage segments via a connection which permits movement of the cage segments relative to one another so that the bone graft containment device is deformable to a desired configuration for placement within a target space of a bone, each cage segment extending along from a first end to a second end and including a channel extending therethrough so that channels of the plurality of cage segments, in an initial configuration, are aligned along the longitudinal axis, the channels configured to be packed with a bone graft material.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/455,370 and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/455,345 both of which were filed on Feb. 6, 2017 and theentire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Mandible defects are often treated with bone grafts and/or implants suchas, bone plates, to assist with healing. The bone grafts may be placedin the target area using any of a variety of methods. However, without acontainer for the bone graft, the graft may fall away from a target sitebefore it can be incorporated by the body into the healing bone.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a bone graft containment device,comprising a plurality of cage segments connected to one another along alongitudinal axis, each of the cage segments connected to an adjacentone of the cage segments via a connection which permits movement of thecage segments relative to one another so that the bone graft containmentdevice is deformable to a desired configuration for placement within atarget space of a bone, each cage segment extending along from a firstend to a second end and including a channel extending therethrough sothat channels of the plurality of cage segments, in an initialconfiguration, are aligned along the longitudinal axis, the channelsconfigured to be packed with a bone graft material.

The present invention is also directed to a bone graft containmentdevice, comprising a first cage segment extending from a first end to asecond end and including a first channel extending therethrough, asecond cage segment extending from a first end to a second end andincluding a second channel extending therethrough, the first end of thesecond cage segment connected to the second end of the first cagesegment so that, when in an initial configuration, the first and secondchannels are aligned along a longitudinal axis, the first and secondcage segments movable relative to one another to a desired configurationfor placement in a target space of a bone, the first and second channelsconfigured to be packed with a bone graft material, and a first slotextending between the first and second cage segments to define a spacetherebetween.

The present invention is also directed to a method for treating a bone,comprising moving cage segments of a graft containment device relativeto one another from an initial configuration to a desired connection,the cage segments connected to one another along a longitudinal axis inthe initial configuration, packing a graft material within channels ofthe cage segments, the channels aligned along the longitudinal axis inthe initial configuration, placing the graft containment device in atarget space of a bone, and fixing the graft containment device to thebone via a fixation element.

The present invention is also directed to a bone graft containmentdevice, comprising a body extending longitudinally from a first end to asecond end and including a channel extending longitudinally therethroughand a plurality of slots extending laterally into the body incommunication with the channel to define a plurality of cage segments,the slots extending along a first side of the body so that a second sideof the body opposite the first side includes a continuous surface, thebody movable between a substantially straight configuration and a curvedconfiguration in which cage segments are moved relative to one anotherto reduce a size of the slots therebetween.

The present invention is also directed to a method for treating a bone,comprising packing a graft material into a channel of a graftcontainment device, the graft containment device including a mesh bodyextending longitudinally from a first end to a second end and includingthe channel extending longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of slotsextending laterally into a first side of the mesh body in communicationwith the channel to define a plurality of cage segments so that a secondside of the mesh body opposite the first side includes a continuoussurface, bending the graft containment device relative to a longitudinalaxis of the graft by drawing edges of adjacent cage segments toward oneanother, positioning the graft containment device in a target space of abone, and fixing the graft containment device to the bone via a bonefixation element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, in an initial configuration;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1, in an adjustedconfiguration;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a cage segment of the graftcontainment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the graft containment cage of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a graft containment cage of thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the graft containment cage of the system ofFIG. 1, in an extended configuration;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a graft containment device accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows another perspective view of the graft containment device ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of the graft containment device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the graft containment device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a device according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 shows another perspective view of the device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a top plan view of the device of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 shows yet another perspective view of the device of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be understood with reference to the followingdescription and the appended drawings, wherein like elements arereferred to with the same reference numerals. The present inventionrelates to the treatment of bone and, in particular, relates totreatments using bone grafts and bone graft substitutes. Exemplaryembodiments of the present invention describe a graft containment cageconfigured to be positioned in a gap or space in a target bone (e.g.,the mandible) so that graft material may be packed therein to encourageand guide the generation of new bone in the gap/space. In one exemplaryembodiment, the cage may be positioned between two separated portions ofbone to generate new bone joining the separated portions of bone. Itwill be understood by those of skill in the art, however, that the graftcontainment cage may be inserted or positioned within any gap or spaceof the target bone including, for example, at an end of the bone, sothat there is bone only on one side of the graft containment cage, orwithin a recessed space of the bone, so that three sides of the graftcontainment cage contact bone. Exemplary embodiments of the graftcontainment device comprise a plurality of cage segments connected toone another at various connection points such that the cage segments aremovable relative to one another to bend and/or extend the graftcontainment device, as desired, to fill the gap or space in the targetbone. Although the exemplary embodiment is shown and described in regardto the treatment of a mandible, it will be understood by those of skillin the art that the graft containment device of the present inventionmay also be formed in different shapes and sized to permit use intreating other types of bone which would benefit from the use of a graftcontainment device.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a system 100 according to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure comprises a bone graft containment device 102including a plurality of cage segments 104 connected to one another atspecific connection points 106 via, for example, one of a firstconnection 108 and a second connection 110. A location, position and/ortype of the connection points 106 (e.g., whether the connection point106 includes the first connection 108 or the second connection 110)allows the graft containment device 102 to be bent and/or expanded sothat the graft containment device 102 may be positioned as desiredwithin a target gap or space of a bone (e.g., to replace a missing,damaged or diseased portion of a mandible). The graft containment device102 may be sized and shaped so that, when the graft containment device102 is positioned in the target gap or space, cage segments 104 at endsof the graft containment device 102 substantially match an outer profileof a target portion of bone which formerly occupied the space tooccupied by the device 102. In one exemplary embodiment, the graftcontainment device 102 is sized and shaped to be positioned between twoseparated portions of a target bone. The connection points 106 permitthe graft containment device 102 to be longitudinally expanded and/orcurved to extend along a path of a portion of the mandible to bereplaced. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the graft containment device 102may be used with a fixation plate 120, which, in this embodiment, fixesthe graft containment device 102 relative to remaining portions of themandible while also maintaining a desired curve of the graft containmentdevice 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second connections 108,110 at the various connection points 106 allow the graft containmentdevice 102 to be easily adjusted to a predefined shape (e.g., curvature)of the fixation plate 120.

As described above, the graft containment device 102 includes aplurality of cage segments 104 connected to one another at variousconnection points 106. Each cage segment 104 may be formed of a meshmaterial, at least the connection points 106 having sufficientflexibility so that the graft containment device 102 may be bent and/orexpanded as will be described in further detail below. The graftcontainment device 102 may be formed of, for example, any suitablepolymer. The graft containment device 102 may be formed or a resorbablematerial, such as polycapralactone, or a nonresorbable material. Eachcage segment 104 may include a plurality of pores 132 extending throughthe material thereof, the pores 132 shaped to promote vascularization ofthe bone while preventing graft material packed in the graft containmentstructure 104 from falling out of the device 102. The pores 132 may alsobe sized and shaped to receive a fixation elements therein. In oneexample, the pores 132 may be sized to receive a bone fixation screwhaving a 1.8 mm diameter. In another embodiment, the mesh material maybe formed via a plurality of intersecting struts formed of a desiredmaterial, the struts intersecting to define the pores 132.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each cage segment 104 extendsfrom a first end 126 to a second end 128 and may have a substantiallyrectangular profile including a first surface 112, a second surface 114,a third surface 116 and a fourth surface 118. The first and thirdsurfaces 112, 116 may extend substantially perpendicular to the secondand fourth surfaces 114, 118 with the first and third surfaces 112, 116substantially opposing one another and the second and fourth surfaces114, 118 substantially opposing one another to form a substantiallyrectangular structure. A channel 122 extends through the rectangularstructure from the first end 126 to the second end 128. When the graftcontainment device 102 is in an operative position relative to themandible, for example, the first surface 112 faces toward a superiordirection while the third surface 116 faces toward an inferior directionand the second surface 114 faces toward a lingual direction while thefourth surface 118 faces toward a buccal direction. Adjacent cagesegments 104 are connected to one another such that channels 122 of eachof the cage segments 104 are aligned relative to one another. In otherwords, a first end 126 of one cage segment 104 is connected to a secondend 128 of an immediately adjacent cage segment 104 so that the cagesegments 104 form a graft containment device 102 which extends along alongitudinal axis L.

Adjacent cage segments 104 may be connected to one another via eitherthe first connection 108 or the second connection 110. The firstconnection 108 connects adjacent cage segments 104 along an entire edgeof one of the surfaces 112-118 of the adjacent cage segments 104. Forexample, a first one of the cage segments 104 a may be connected to asecond one of the cage segments 104 b via the first connection 108 alongedges of fourth surfaces 118 a, 118 b of the first and second cagesegments 104 a, 104 b, respectively. In other words, an edge at thesecond end 128 of the fourth surface 118 a is connected to an edge atthe first end 126 of the fourth surface 118 b. The first connection 108is formed such that, in a configuration to which the device 102 isbiased, remaining surfaces 112-116 of the first and second cage segments104 a, 104 b contact one another. The first connection 108 of thisembodiment acts substantially as a hinged joint so that, when the firstand second cage segments 104 a, 104 b are moved relative to one another,the first and second cage segments 104 a, 104 b “pivots” about the firstconnection 108. Thus, the first and second cage segments 104 a, 104 bmay be moved relative to one another by pivoting about the firstconnection 108 so that first, second and third surfaces 112-116 may beseparated from one another. In other words, in the biased configuration,the fourth surfaces 118 a, 118 b of the first and second cage segments104 a, 104 b extend substantially in a single plane. The first andsecond cage segments 104 a, 104 b, however, may be moved relative to oneanother such that the fourth surface 118 a of the first cage segments104 a is angled with respect to the fourth surface 118 b of the secondcage segments 104 b about the first connection 108. The secondconnection 110 may connect two adjacent cage segments 104 via one of thesurfaces 112-118 such that the two adjacent cage segments 104 may bedistanced from one another to form a slot 124 therebetween, as shown inFIG. 4. For example, the second cage segment 104 b may be connected to athird one of the cage segments 104 c via the second connection 110 alongthird surfaces 116 b, 116 c of the second and third cage segments 104 b,104 c, respectively. In one embodiment, third surfaces 116 b, 116 c ofthe second and third cage segments 104 b, 104 c may form one continuoussurface, such that the slot 124 is formed between the second end 128 ofthe second cage segment 104 b and the first end 126 of the third cagesegment 104 c, substantially transverse relative to the longitudinalaxis L of the graft containment device 102. In the biased configuration,the third surfaces 116 b, 116 c may be substantially planar, extendingalong a single plane, and a size of the slot 124 (e.g., a distancebetween the second and third cage segments 104 b, 104 c) remainsconsistent along an entire length thereof. The slot 124, however,permits the graft containment device 102 extending therealong to be bentrelative to the longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIG. 5, and/or extendedalong the longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIG. 6. When the graftcontainment device 102 is bent and/or extended, the third surfaces 116b, 116 c may be bent or curved to increase a size of the slot 124.

In one embodiment, adjacent cage segments 104 are alternatinglyconnected to one another via the first and second connections 108, 110.For example, since the first cage segment 104 a is connected to thesecond cage segment 104 b via the first connection 108 and the secondcage segment 104 b is connected to the third cage segment 104 c via thesecond connection 110, the third cage segment 104 c will be connected toa fourth cage segment 104 d via the first connection 108 and the fourthcage segment 104 d is connected to a fifth cage segment 104 e via thesecond connection. For example, an edge of at a second end 128 of afourth surface 118 c of the third cage segment 104 c may also beconnected to an edge at a first end 126 of a fourth surface 118 d of thefourth cage segment 104 d. In this embodiment, the first connections 108may be formed at edges of the fourth surfaces 118 of adjacent cagesegments 104 to achieve a bending trajectory particularly suited fortreatment of the mandible (e.g., bending of the graft containment device102 along a surface of the fixation plate fixation plate 120). It willbe understood by those of skill in the art, however, that the firstconnections 108 may be formed along any of the surfaces 112, 118 toachieve a bending trajectory suited for other types of target bones tobe treated.

A position of each of the second connections 110 may alternate along alength of the graft containment device so that alternating secondconnections 110 may extend on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis L.For example, whereas the second and third cage segments 104 b, 104 c areconnected along the third surfaces 116 b, 116 c so that the slot 124extends from the third surfaces 116 b, 116 c in the superior direction,the fourth cage segment 104 d may be connected to the fifth cage segment104 e along first surfaces 112 d, 112 e of the fourth and fifth cagesegments 104 d, 104 e, respectively, so that the slot 124 extends in aninferior direction therefrom. This alternating configuration of thesecond connections 110 permits both a bending of the graft containmentdevice 102 and an extension of the graft containment device 102 alongthe longitudinal axis L.

The alternating pattern of connections 108, 110 described above may becontinued along a length of the graft containment device. Although theexemplary embodiment shows and describes a specific pattern ofconnections 108, 110 at designated connection points 106, it will beunderstood by those of skill in the art that the connection points 106and pattern of connections 108, 110 may be varied to achieve a desiredbending/extension trajectory to suit the target bone being treated. Inaddition, although the exemplary embodiment shows and describes cagesegments 104 having a substantially rectangular structure, it will beunderstood by those of skill in the art, that a cross-sectional profileof the cage segments 104 may be varied to correspond to a profile of thetarget bone being treated.

The graft containment device 102 may have any number of cage segments104 and may extend along a desired length. In one embodiment, as shown,each cage segment 104 may have substantially similar proportions. Itwill be understood by those of skill in the art, however, that each cagesegment 104 may be of varying sizes (e.g., length) and/or shape. Thegraft containment device 102 may be manufactured in a predeterminedlength, but may be trimmed, as desired, to fit the target space or gapof the target bone.

According to an exemplary method using the system 100, graft materialmay be packed into the channels 122 of the cage segments via ends of thegraft containment device 102. Upon packing of the graft material, asdesired, the graft containment device 102 may be bent and/or extended tofit the target space or gap of the bone being treated (e.g., mandible).If the graft containment device 102 is too long, however, the graftcontainment device 102 may be trimmed to a desired length. For example,the graft containment device 102 may be trimmed at a connection point106 to remove a desired number of cage segments.

In one embodiment, the graft containment device 102 may be used with afixation plate 120. In this case, the graft containment device 102 maybe positioned against the fixation plate 120 such that the graftcontainment device 102 is bent/extended to adjust to the predefinedshape of the fixation plate 120, as shown in FIG. 2. Once the graftcontainment device 102 has been adjusted, as desired, the fixation plate120 may be fixed to the graft containment device 102 via fixationelements such as, for example, screws, which may be inserted throughopenings 130 of the fixation plate 120 and pores 132 of the cagesegments 104. If so desired, additional graft material may be insertedinto the graft containment device 102 via the slots 124 and any spacebetween adjacent cage segments 104 resulting from the bending/extendingof the graft containment device 102. Once the fixation plate 120 hasbeen fixed to the graft containment device 102, the graft containmentdevice 102 and fixation plate 120 assembly may be positioned in thetarget space/gap of the bone and fixed therein via the fixation plate120, ends of which may overlap the separated portions of bone. Thefixation plate 120 may be fixed to the bone via fixation elementsinserted through openings 130 extending through portions of the fixationplate 120 overlapping the bone.

As described above, connection points and the types of connectionsbetween adjacent cage segments may be varied to form a graft containmentdevice having a desired bending trajectory. According to anotherexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8-11, a graft containment device202 may be substantially similar to the graft containment device 102described above, comprising a plurality of cage segments 204 connectedto one another at connection points 206. Each cage segment 204 may besubstantially similar to the cage segment 104, and may include, forexample, a first surface 212, a second surface 214, a third surface 216and a fourth surface 218 connected to one another to form a rectangularstructure extending from a first end 226 to a second end 228 andincluding a channel 222 extending therethrough. Similarly to the graftcontainment device 102, these cage segments 204 are connected to oneanother along a longitudinal axis, a first end 226 of one cage segment204 connected to a second end 228 of an adjacent cage segment 204.Rather than first and second connections 108, 110, however, the cagesegments 204 are connected to one another along an edge 234 connectingtwo adjacent surfaces 212-218.

In the embodiment shown, for example, the cage segments 204 areconnected along an edge 234 along which the first and fourth surfaces212, 218 meet via a connecting edge 236. The connecting edge 236 may beconfigured as, for example, a strut extending between the cage segments204. In a biased configuration, the connecting edge 236 extends along asubstantially straight line. When adjacent cage segments 204 are movedrelative to one another, however, the connecting edge 236 may be bent orcurved so that portions of adjacent cage segments 204 are separated fromone another. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8-9, the second end228 of one cage segment 204 may be in contact with the first end 226 ofan adjacent cage segment 204, in the biased configuration. In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10-11, the first end 226 of a cage segment204 is separated from the second end of the adjacent cage segment 204 sothat a space exists therebetween. It will be understood by those ofskill in the art, that the graft containment device 202 may be used in amanner substantially similar to the graft containment device 102. Likethe graft containment device 102, the graft containment device 202 mayalso be used in conjunction with a fixation plate.

Although the exemplary embodiments show and describe graft containmentdevices 102, 202 having specific connection points 106, 206 withspecific connection types (e.g., connection 108, 110 and connecting edge236), it will be understood by those of skill in the art that thepresent disclosure includes graft containment devices having any of avariety of connection points with any of a variety of combinations ofconnection types. It will be understood by those of skill in the artthat connections between adjacent cage segments may be selected toobtain a desired trajectory of movement of the graft containment device.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, a graft containment device 300 according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may besubstantially similar to the graft containment devices 102, 202described above, comprising a body 302 defined via cage segments 306.The cage segments 306, however, as will be described in further detailbelow, are connected to one another via a continuous surface extendingalong sides of the segments 306 which, when in an operative position,may face toward a lingual direction. In addition, the graft containmentdevice 300 may be formed to include a fixation tab 312 so that afixation plate is not required for fixing the graft containment device300 relative to the bone.

The body 302 extends along a longitudinal axis L and includes a channel324 extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis L for receivinggraft material. A plurality of slots 304 extend laterally into the body302 at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis L to define cagesegments 306 separated from one another by the slots 304. For example,in this embodiment, the device 300 includes a lattice formed by a seriesof generally circumferential members 307 interconnected by a series oflongitudinal members 309. The slots 304 of this embodiment are formed asareas in which adjacent ones of the circumferential members 307 are notcoupled to each other by longitudinal members about a portion of thecircumference of the device 300. For example, in the embodiment of FIG.11, the slots 304 are formed as areas free of longitudinal members 309so that continuous longitudinal members 309 extend only along one planarface of the body 302, as described below. In particular, the slots 304extend into the body 302 along a first side 308 of the body 302 which,when the device 300 is in an operative position within a mandible, facestoward a lingual direction, so that a second side 310 of the body 302opposite the first side 308 which, in the operative position, facestoward a buccal direction, includes a continuous surface with eachadjacent pair of circumferential members 307 connected to each other bymultiple longitudinal members 309. The slots 304 (e.g., area of the body302 free of longitudinal members 309) along the first side 308 permit alateral bending of the body 302.

When the graft containment device 300 is positioned within a targetspace of a bone such as the mandible, the first side 308 may face in alingual direction while the second side 310 may face toward a buccaldirection. The graft containment device 300 may be bent from asubstantially straight first configuration toward a curved secondconfiguration, in which the cage segments 306 are moved toward oneanother to reduce the size of the spaces between adjacent cage segments306 (i.e., by drawing edges of adjacent cage segments toward one anotherat the slots 304) so that a curved path of the graft containment device300 substantially corresponds to a curve of a portion of the mandible tobe replaced. The graft containment device 300 may further include afixation tab 312 integrated with the body 302 for fixing the body 302 tosurrounding portions of bone. The fixation tab 312 includes a pluralityopenings 314 extending along a length thereof for receiving bonefixation elements therein. The fixation tab 312 may extend beyond endsof the body 302 so that, when the body 302 is positioned in the space ofthe target bone to be replaced, ends of the fixation tab 312 extend overremaining portions of bone at either end or both ends of the targetportion of bone to be replaced to so that graft containment device 300may be fixed to the remaining bone via the fixation tab 312. In anotherembodiment, the graft containment device 300 may also be used with afixation plate, which may be fixed to the device via bone fixationelements inserted through pores 320 of the body 302, as will bedescribed in further detail below.

As described above, the body 302 of this embodiment is formed as a mesh(a lattice of circumferential and longitudinal members 307, 309,respectively) of material having sufficient flexibility so that thegraft containment device 302 may be bent, as will be described infurther detail below. The body 302 may be formed of, for example, anysuitable biocompatible polymer. The body 302 may be formed of aresorbable polymer such as polycapralactone, or a nonresorbablematerial. The circumferential and longitudinal members 307, 309,respectively, of the body 302 are spaced from one another by distancesselected to form a plurality of pores 320 sized to promotevascularization of the bone while preventing graft material packed inthe body 302 from falling out of the body 302. For example, pores 320having a size greater than 0.3 mm may promote vascularization of thebone. In an alternate embodiment, the body 302 may be formed of a meshmaterial without discrete circumferential members 307 and longitudinalmembers 309 including pores 320 sized similarly to those formed in thedevice 300 of FIG. 1. The pores 320 may also be sized and shaped toreceive bone fixation elements therethrough. In one example, a selectednumber of the pores 320 may have a size of approximately 1.8 mm, which,as will be understood by those of skill in the art, may receive 2.4 mmbone fixation screws. Thus, in cases in which the graft containmentdevice is used with a fixation plate, bone fixation elements may beinserted through openings of the fixation plate and through pores of thebody 302 to fix the fixation plate relative to the graft containmentdevice 300.

The body 302 of the graft containment device 300 extends along thelongitudinal axis L from a first end 316 to a second end 318 andincludes the channel 324 extending therethrough along the longitudinalaxis L. The plurality of slots 304 extend laterally into the first side308 of the body 302 so that the slots 304 are in communication with thechannel 324. The slots 304 extend into the body 302 at an angle relativeto the longitudinal axis L. In one embodiment, the slots 304 may extendinto the body 302 substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axisL. As described above, the slots 304 extend along the first side 308 ofthe body 302 so that the second side 310 of the body 302 opposite thefirst side 308 includes a continuous surface. The slots 304 extendinginto the body 302 to define the cage segments 306. In one embodiment,the slots 304 may be equidistantly spaced from one another so that theresulting cage segments 306 are uniform in length. In anotherembodiment, a distance between adjacent slots 304 may vary so that thecage segments 306 may vary in length along a length of the body 302.Thus, lengths of each of the cage segments 306 may vary depending on adesired stability and/or desired increased curvature of the body 302.For example, shorter cage segments 306 permit greater bending along acorresponding portion of the graft containment device 300 while longercage segments 306 may have limited bending but provide greaterstability.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that a size of theslots 304 between adjacent cage segments 306 determines a degree ofpermitted bending between adjacent cage segments 306. To permitincreased bending without substantially increasing the size of the slots304, the slots 304 may be angulated relative to an axis perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis L, as shown in FIG. 13, by angles of approximately+/− 5 degrees. Each of the slots 304 may taper from the first side 308of the body 302 toward the second side 310 of the body 302 so that asize (e.g., a distance between adjacent cage segments 306) of the slot304 decreases as the slot 304 extends toward the second side 310. Inother words, edges 322 of each of the cage segments 306 are angledrelative to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L so thateach cage segment 306 tapers from the second surface 310 toward thefirst surface 308. When the edges 322 of adjacent cage segments 306contact one another, the adjacent cage segments 306 cannot be bent anyfurther relative to one another. Thus, the angles of the slots 304/edges322 define a maximum permitted bending of the graft containment device300. In an exemplary embodiment, adjacent cage segments 306 may beseparated from one another by a distance of between approximately 1.8 mm(e.g., the size of one pore with no angulation of the edges 322) toapproximately 8.6 mm (e.g., the size of three pores including angulationof the edges 322). Although the slots 304 are shown as consistentlysized along a length of the body 302, it will be understood by those ofskill in the art that the slots 304 may vary in size along the length ofthe body 302 to achieve a desired bending configuration of the body 302.

In one exemplary embodiment, the graft containment device 302 is sizedand shaped to be positioned between two separated portions of a targetbone. As shown in FIG. 14, a lateral cross-section of the body 302 maysubstantially match an outer profile of a target portion of bone whichformerly occupied the space to be occupied by the device 300. Where thetarget bone is the mandible, the cross-section of the body 302 maysubstantially correspond to a cross-section of a mandible. Thecross-section may provide for future bone bulk in relevant areas whileminimizing pressure on soft tissue. For example, the first surface 308,which, when the graft containment device 300 is positioned in the targetspace of the mandible faces a lingual direction, may taper toward aninferior direction. This permits bulk along a superior portion of thegraft containment device 300.

The fixation tab 312 may be integrally formed with the body 302 and mayextend longitudinally along the second surface 310 of the body 302. Inone embodiment, the fixation tab 312 may extend substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis L. The fixation tab 312 extends from a firstend 326 to a second end 328, the first end 326 extending beyond thefirst end 316 of the body 302 and the second end 328 extending beyondthe second end 318 of the body 302 so that, when the body 302 ispositioned within the target space of the bone, the first and secondends 326, 328 of the fixation tab 312 may extend over separated portionsof the bone which are being bridged by the graft containment device 300.The fixation tab 312 includes a plurality of openings 314 extendingtherethrough, along a length thereof. Each of the openings 314 are sizedand shaped to receive a bone fixation element therein. Thus, bonefixation elements may be inserted through openings 314 along the firstand second ends 326, 328 of the fixation tab 312 to fix the graftcontainment device 300 relative to the bone.

The graft containment device 300 may have any number of cage segments306 and may extend along any desired length. As described above, eachcage segment 306 may have substantially similar proportions or may be ofvarying sizes (e.g., length) to attain a desired stability and/orbendability of the graft containment device 300 that is uniform or thatvaries in a desired manner along a length of the device 300. The graftcontainment device 300 may be manufactured in a predetermined length,but may be trimmed, as desired, to fit the target space or gap of thetarget bone. In particular, a length of the graft containment device 300may be modified by cutting the body 302 between adjacent cage segments306. Since the openings 314 may extend along an entire length of thefixation tab 312, the fixation tab 312 may also be trimmed so that anend thereof always extends beyond a cut end of the body 302. Accordingto an exemplary method using the graft containment device 300, graftmaterial is packed into the channel 324 of the body 302 via the firstand second ends 316, 318 of the body 302 and/or via the slots 304. Uponpacking of the graft material, as desired, the body 302 may be bentrelative to the longitudinal axis L to fit the target space or gap ofthe bone being treated (e.g., mandible). If the graft containment device300 is too long, however, the graft containment device 300 may betrimmed to a desired length. For example, the graft containment device300 may be trimmed at a point between adjacent cage segments 306 so thata desired number of cage segments 306 may be removed. Additionally, thegraft containment device 300 may be trimmed to increase a size of one ormore slots 304 of the body 302 to increase a bending curvature of thebody 302. For example, portions of circumferential and/or longitudinalmembers 307, 309 adjacent to the edges 322 defining the slots 304 may becut/removed to increase the size of the slots 304.

Once the body 302 has been bent, as desired, the body 302 may bepositioned in the target space or gap so that first and second ends 326,328 of the fixation tab 312 extend over separated portions of the bone,which are being bridged by the graft containment device 300. Bonefixation elements are inserted into openings 314 along the first andsecond ends 326, 328 to fix the graft containment device 300 to thebone. Although not shown, it will be understood by those of skill in theart that the graft containment device 300 may be utilized in conjunctionwith a fixation plate. In cases in which a fixation plate is desired tobe used, the graft containment device 300 may be positioned against thefixation plate such that the graft containment device 300 is bent toadjust to the predefined shape of the fixation plate. Once the graftcontainment device 300 has been adjusted, as desired, the fixation platemay be fixed to the graft containment device 300 via fixation elementssuch as, for example, screws, which may be inserted through openings ofthe fixation plate and pores 320 of the mesh body 302.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that modificationsand variations may be made in the structure and methodology of thepresent invention, without departing from the spirit or the scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover themodifications and variations of this invention, provided that they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A bone graft containment device, comprising a plurality of cagesegments connected to one another along a longitudinal axis, each of thecage segments connected to an adjacent one of the cage segments via aconnection which permits movement of the cage segments relative to oneanother so that the bone graft containment device is deformable to adesired configuration for placement within a target space of a bone,each cage segment extending along from a first end to a second end andincluding a channel extending therethrough so that channels of theplurality of cage segments, in an initial configuration, are alignedalong the longitudinal axis, the channels configured to be packed with abone graft material.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectionincludes a first connection in which a slot extends between adjacentcage segments so that a remaining, non-connected portion of the adjacentcage segments connected by the first connection are separated from oneanother.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the adjacent cage segmentsconnected by the first connection are connected to one another via acontinuous surface extending therebetween.
 4. The device of claim 3,wherein, in the initial configuration, the continuous surface issubstantially planar.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectionincludes a second connection which connects a portion of an edge of oneof the cage segments with a portion of the edge of the adjacent cagesegment.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein, in the initialconfiguration, non-connected portions of the adjacent cage segmentsconnected by the second connection are in contact with one another. 7.The device of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the cagesegments correspond to a cross-sectional area of the bone.
 8. The deviceof claim 1, wherein each cage segment is configured as a substantiallyrectangular structure.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein each cagesegment is formed of a mesh material including a plurality of poresextending therethrough.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least oneof the pores is sized and shaped to receive a portion of a bone fixationelement.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the bone fixation elementis a screw.
 12. A bone graft containment device, comprising: a firstcage segment extending from a first end to a second end and including afirst channel extending therethrough; a second cage segment extendingfrom a first end to a second end and including a second channelextending therethrough, the first end of the second cage segmentconnected to the second end of the first cage segment so that, when inan initial configuration, the first and second channels are alignedalong a longitudinal axis, the first and second cage segments movablerelative to one another to a desired configuration for placement in atarget space of a bone, the first and second channels configured to bepacked with a bone graft material; and a first slot extending betweenthe first and second cage segments to define a space therebetween. 13.The device of claim 12, wherein the first connection includes acontinuous surface extending between portions of the first and secondcage segments.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the continuoussurface is substantially planar in the biased configuration.
 15. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the first connection includes a strutextending between the first cage and the second cage.
 16. The device ofclaim 12, further comprising a third cage segment extending from a firstend to a second end and including a third channel extendingtherethrough, the first end of the third cage segment movably connectedto the second end of the second cage segment so that the third channelis aligned with the second channel along the longitudinal axis, in theinitial configuration.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein, in theinitial configuration, the edges of the second and third cage segmentscontact one another.
 18. The device of claim 16, further comprising asecond slot extending between the second and third cage segments todefine a space therebetween.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein thefirst and second slot are open to an exterior of the device on opposingsides of the longitudinal axis.
 20. A method for treating a bone,comprising: moving cage segments of a graft containment device relativeto one another from an initial configuration to a desired connection,the cage segments connected to one another along a longitudinal axis inthe initial configuration; packing a graft material within channels ofthe cage segments, the channels aligned along the longitudinal axis inthe initial configuration; placing the graft containment device in atarget space of a bone; and fixing the graft containment device to thebone via a fixation element.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein fixingthe graft containment device to the bone includes attaching the graftcontainment device to a fixation plate.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the bone is a mandible.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein aslot extends laterally through the graft containment device to separateportions of adjacent cage segments from one another.
 24. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising cutting the graft containment device to adesired length by cutting a desired number of cage segments therefrom.25-44. (canceled)